Seduction of the Innocent

"Seduction of the Innocent," a book published in 1954 by psychiatrist Dr. Fredric Wertham, argued that comic books negatively influenced children, promoting violence, crime, and immoral behavior. Wertham claimed that certain comic book content could harm young minds by encouraging deviant thoughts and actions. The book sparked widespread concern, leading to increased censorship and the creation of the Comics Code Authority, which severely restricted comic book content. While controversial and criticized for its generalizations, the book significantly impacted comic book publishing and discussions about media influence on youth.